Sugar*Sugar

Even MORE Peeks!

One last little peeky for y'all before I stock my "shelves" over at the Sugar*Sugar shop!

I'm still working on a lot of things today, so I think I'll be adding a bunch over the next few days and weeks... all in plenty of time for Christmas!

I have oodles of goodies for your projects and decor, lots of foof and lots of vintage goodness!

Some of the new items include...

I just *LOVE* this mini Santa, he is so hard to part with! Oh well, I'm sure one of you will cherish him just as much as I do!

I was just sharing with my sweetest friend and gal pal Shelly, from The Pink Barn, this morning... we were laughing about how all of our "stuff" was taking over our homes! It's TRUE! OMG! I have sooooo much stuff... everywhere!

So, I'm cleaning up the shelves and sharing the loot with all of you!

Happy me! Happy Husband! Happy Home!

I had to take a small break this morning and take a breath of fresh air! I snuck out with my son to the Christmas Wish House here in Clovis. Okay, you would all *LOVE* it!

They empty out a large Victorian house (put all of their stuff in storage) and FILL it with all handmade crafts, goodies, baked goods, all KINDS of stuff! It's amazing, I only wish I had taken my camera!

Betty at She's Sew Pretty has a ton of her sweet goodies for sale in the house, so I dropped in and said hello! I also picked up a few of her pretties!

SUCH an adorable bon bon pincushion! She hand makes these roses, they look so yummy!

I just *love* this sweet and pink flowery pincushion! Betty, you have an amazing talent, this is sewn perfectly! Thanks!!

and I also picked up a rose wand from another seller... it was just too pretty to pass up!

Maybe if I wave this wand at my mess, it will MAGICALLY disappear!

Let's hope so!

Back to work for me!!

See y'all tomorrow!

More Christmas Peeks!

Just quickly stopping in to give y'all a few more sneak peeks for my shop update on

Friday, November 30th!

I've got some pretties for ya!

Pretty Glittered Snowflake Boxes

Vintage Ornament Boxes Filled with Vintage Christmas Goodies! YUM!

And...Shabby Snowflake Pennants! So pretty!

Well, it's back to work for me! I'll post more peeks tomorrow, so come on by!

XXOO

~Analise

Shop Update for Christmas

The past few weeks have been a blur... so much going on!

I've decorated my house for Christmas, 5 trees so far! I'll take some photos to share soon! I've been cleaning, had sick kids, and celebrated my 12 year anniversary on Sunday!

On top of all of that, I've been working really hard on some new items for my shop!

The thing is, that I've had a lot of ideas, things to make, but after a while, everything begins to look the same.

I love new ideas! I love new colors, new ways to include traditional ideas, just something unique! I also have to stay true to the one thing I love...

*PINK*

So, in light of that, I will be offering some supplies in bright Christmas colors, and also a few things I've cooked up of my own!

A few sneek peeks...

I'll be posting more sneek peeks in the next few days... in preparation for my shop update on Friday, November 30th!

See you then!!

*Analise*

Ann's Virtual Cookie Exchange!

I got an invitation from Ann at Keepin' Up With the Tatums to participate in her First Annual Virtual Cookie Exchange! SO fun!

So, I was deciding about what kind of cookies to bake... I LOVE to bake and decorate Christmas cookies every year with my girlfriends.

Sometimes, I must admit, we get a bit carried away with the decorations...

think Gingerbread...gone wild...

Okay, enough said.

*wink*

I'm sure I will decorate cookies again this year, but for now, I decided to share my VERY FAVORITE cookie recipe. So easy, so yummy.

and yes, I did take photos along the way!

So here we go...

ANALISE'S VERY FAVORITE OATMEAL COOKIES

3/4 cup Butter Flavor Crisco ( I use the sticks)

1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups quick oats, uncooked

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 375.  Set out foil strips for cooling.

2. Combine Crisco, brown sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with mixer until well blended.

3. Combine oats, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed until blended.

4. Stir in chopped pecans.

5. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet.

6. Bake one sheet at a time at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet then move to foil to cool.

Makes about 2- 1/2 dozen!

For gift giving, I stacked 3 cookies and tied them with pretty Christmas ribbon...

Then placed the cookies and a pretty pine cone ornament into a small bakery box (made for cupcakes).

I finished the box with a candy cane ornament, a bow and a button! SOOO EASY!

Happy Holidays and Happy Baking Everyone!

To see more recipes and other gals in the cookie swap, go to Ann's Cookie Exchange!

Vintage Christmas Stocking Swap

My mom has the kiddos for the ENTIRE WEEKEND!

WOO HOO

So, Jeff and I are sleeping late, watching movies, eating junk food

and I'm NOT DOING ANY LAUNDRY!!!!

:0)

I just heard from Jenny, my swap partner, that she received my stocking for the Vintage Christmas Stocking Swap.

So now I can show you all the full photos of the stocking and goodies I sent her way!

Okay, so...

Did I mention how fun this was?? I think I did. Well, you get to hear again!

I know Jenny's favorite colors.... and I made this bag that she loved way back in May, using vintage linens and sheet fabric.

So, I thought, what the heck, I *love* this fabric SOOOOO much, maybe it will look cute for a stocking!

I thought about it for a long time.... 'cause I wasn't sure about it... maybe it was too Springy or too bright... but then I thought, "Who Cares? I REALLY LOVE THIS FABRIC!"

So I did it!

I made an elf boot with pink ruffles that remind me of candy! I added some white pom pom trim and Voila!

A Vintage Stocking!

I really like the end result! It's very whimsical and not traditional at all... much like myself!

Here are some of the goodies I put together for her....

I just *LOOOVE* this little glittered gift box!

I'm going to be putting some in my shop this week! So stop by!

These are all of the fun prizes I sent with Jenny's stocking... some vintage and some new, but all FUN! I also made a few taggies for Christmas gifts!

Okay, has anyone been to Target yet??

I got some of these SUPER CUTE Ornaments and Vintage looking goodies in the Christmas Section!! You gotta check it out, tell them I sent you!

I also hear Martha Stewart has some cute ornaments this year at Kmart... maybe I'll stop by and see later... I let you know...

Okay, we're off to the movies... candy, popcorn, yum!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wishing you all a very VERY Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all enjoying family and friends this holiday, with many laughs, hugs and smiles!

*HUGS*

~Analise~

Sneaky Peeky!

I remember one year when I was about 8... I got up really early on Christmas morning and snuck in to peek at all of the gifts Santa brought my brother, sister and I. Then I ran to my mom's bed where my little sis was sleeping and started telling ALLLLL of the secrets!

Okay, let's just say, Mom was NOT happy with little miss Analise!!

ha ha

I think I cried.

So, from then on, I did all of my sneaking and peeking secretly... shhhh, again, don't tell mom!!

:0)

So... for the Vintage Christmas Stocking Swap I am only posting a few sneak peeks for my super sweet partner Jenny! Yes, the super fab gal we all know and love, Jenny from Everyday is a Holiday!

A quick peek while were chatting...

Okay, I have had SO MUCH FUN putting this stocking together! It was such a great idea! Thanks to MaryAnn at Follow your Bliss for hosting such a fun swap!

I think next week I'll begin decorating the house for Christmas~ I just really won't have time if I wait any longer! Yippee! Christmas is my FAVORITE!

Alrighty, well on to the peeks...

FUUUUNNNN!!!

I'll post all the full size pics when Jenny gets her stocking~

I hope I can wait that long!!

*Analise*

SUCH an HONOR!

I have sort of been waiting to share this INCREDIBLE news, just because I want to be sure of things before I just spill the beans. But, I just can't wait any longer! Secrets are HARD to keep!

I was recently contacted by the editors of Somerset Life Magazine to be an artist on call! (I'm dying!) The official term they are giving us is "Bonnes Vivantes". It is a French term for people who live life with optimism and passion.

I am just SO SO HONORED to even be thought of! Y'all have no idea how bad I was dying when I got the invitation! When I saw the list of other artists, I nearly fell on the floor with sheer amazement!

This is the team of SUPER talented artists who are the Bonnes Vivantes:

Sara Duckett (sadieolive.typepad.com),

Sandra Evertson (sandraevertson.blogspot.com),

Pam Garrison (pamgarrison.typepad.com),

Lisa Guerin (lisaguerin-artblog.blogspot.com),

Amy Hanna (amyhanna.etsy.com),

Hanne Matthiessen (ihanne.wordpress.com),

Melissa McCobb Hubbell (gardenofpinkshadows.typepad.com),

Lori Oles (vintageflair.typepad.com),

Kristen Robinson (kristenrobinson.typepad.com),

Cynthia Shaffer,

Rebecca Sower (rebeccasower.typepad.com)

and ME!!

Oh MY GAWD!

So, my hair is literally up in a bun and lightly heavily dusted with 3 shades of glitter, I am peeling glue off of my fingers and arms, the laundry is a mountain in my living room and I am so, SO HAPPY!

Here is my dining room table! AGH! (sorry the pic is a bit dark!)

This really is just still an amazing thing for me and I feel humbled and honored! So, be looking for some of my goodies in the next issue of Somerset Life!! WOO HOO!!

I don't know how much I can even show here, but I want to give a sneak peek of some of my ideas! Keep in mind, these are for the April issue...

Okay, so now I am off to FINALLY finish up my stocking for the Vintage Stocking Swap!

I promise Jenny, it's on the way!! XXOO

~Analise~

fall frenzy!

Well friends, my month of doom has finally come to a dramatic close!! I am at last free to do as I please and lie around on my cozy couch and dream of the holidays!

The last 2 weeks have been a blur, with so much going on and hardly any time to sit and reflect. I did however take plenty of photos to share!

Let's see, first there was my son's Kindergarten trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Reedley, CA. Oh, you would have *LOVED* this sweet little place!

 

They cater to young children! Every detail is covered! First, they tell a story of Mr. Rabbit and his adventures...

He lives in the Pumpkin Patch!

After finding a giant pumpkin, he pops it open and discovers how to plant a pumpkin himself! Then the guide shows each stage of a pumpkins life... from seed to fully grown.

The children are taken on a walk thru the forest to discover Mr. Rabbit's house!

Then they are all treated with a hay ride and a walk thru a corn maze!

After all of the fun, each child gets to pick their own small pumpkin!

It was so much fun to be a chaperone, listening to all of the 5 year olds direct me... I told them all to take care of me so I wouldn't get lost in the corn maze! It actually worked! They all stayed right beside me!

On Friday, my mom hosted a Halloween Party.

Oh, I thought for hours of what to wear... really, I did! I just couldn't think of a great costume! Finally, I had it!

It took me about an hour to make my PRIZE WINNING COSTUME!!

A lady in the shower!

We had such a great time! Everyone came in costume!

My kiddos came as a Ninja Turtle, A Fairy Princess and Spaghetti.

My mom was a pirate...(she'll kill me for posting this picture! Shhh...) Isn't she cute though??

My baby sister and her hubby and baby came as a hunting party... she was the prey.

We also had a Nun (complete with Wine Bible), an Ipod, an oompa loompa, a baby nurse, a bumble bee, another pirate and a butterfly!

We played lots of games... like "Eyeball Search" where you search for "eyeballs" in a huge pan of "brains"!

We also had a Donut Gobble... SO FUNNY!

Jeff is in the back, he came as Charlie Brown.

Oh, it was such a fun time! My kids won't soon forget!

On Sunday, I invited all of the children at church to come and carve a pumpkin. I remember as a kid carving pumpkins with my family... I even won a pumpkin carving contest one year when I was 9 or 10.

I wanted to let the kids of our church have some of these same memories... carving a pumpkin, there's nothing like it! For some of the kids, this was the first time to carve a pumpkin!!

Lastly, I wanted to share a photo of our trunk for the "Trunk or Treat" and Harvest Festival that our church sponsored. This is what has been consuming ALLLLLL of my time lately! So, I am happy, SO HAPPY, to say it was a success! We had a good turn out, lots of fun, games and of course, CANDY!

Our trunk's theme was CANDYLAND!!

My kids *LOVED* helping me with the decorations and making all of the "candy".

We made a Hershey Kiss out of paper and foil, a giant Hershey chocolate bar, giant M&Ms, giant lollipops, giant peppermints and giant candy canes... then topped it all off with a HUGE sprinkling of candy!

Jeff came as "KING CANDY". I made him a candy hat, candy tie and even a candy scepter!

Well, I have so many crafty and sweet things to show you as well, but it will have to wait until Monday my dearies. I am exhausted!!!! ( I think I am going to watch Marie Antionette again this evening, just to see something pretty!!)

Until then,

*analise*